COPA Provincial Finals Enters Penultimate Stage

The COPA Coca-Cola provincial finals enters the penultimate stage this weekend with four teams from the expansive Rift Valley region expected to qualify for the national finals.

Wareng High School will be the venue for Rift Valley (A) provincial finals on Saturday and will see St. Antony lock horns with Uasin Gishu Boys in the opening quarterfinal match. Friends Bwake will then take on Umoja High School with the other quarterfinal duels being Cheptil versus Sacho, and Kapsabet versus Tambach. 

Winners of the quarterfinal matches will then face off in the semifinals where two teams will qualify for the final with the winner earning the right to carry the province’s flag to Kisumu finals.

In the girls’ quarterfinal matches, Wiyeta Girls will take on Keroteti girls, Kabuwefwe will be pitted against Ngeria girls while Itigo and Kosirai girls will battle against Kaptum and Kapropita respectively. The losing finalists in the boys’ and girls’ matches will battle for a third place playoff.

On Sunday, all action will shift to Afraha Stadium for the Rift Valley (B) provincial finals. Machanga Youth will aim for an upset against Lenana Primary in the first quarterfinal with the winner facing either Mombwo Secondary or Bomet Youth. Other quarterfinal duels will see Sotik Youth match up against Makadara with the winner of this quarterfinal match facing either Narok High or Taita Towett in the semifinals.

The girls’ quarterfinal matches will be between Lysa and Ole Sankale, Lenana Primary and Poiywek Girls, Chagaik Girls versus Siongiroi and Chesoen versus Makadara.

The last leg of the COPA provincial finals will be played next weekend with the finals slated for Kisumu in mid-August. 

And That's thesteifmastertake!! 

JMJ Academy and Jogoo Road Qualify For COPA National Finals

JMJ Academy and Jogoo Road Girls will represent Nairobi Province in the COPA Coca-Cola national finals after cruising past their opponents in the provincial finals played last weekend.

Jogoo Road booked their ticket to the Kisumu finals after piping St. Teresa 4-2 in post-match penalties at the semifinals stage before hitting four goals past Kasarani in the final. Phoebe Ekirapa was the heroine hitting a brace with Mural Auma and Peninah Achando scoring the other two to give Jogoo Road a convincing 4-0 win over Kasarani.

St Teresa beat St. Martins 1-0 to take the third place bragging rights.

The boys’ matches were hotly contested with four matches, including the final, being decided on penalties. JMJ Academy proved too good for Makadara in the first quarterfinal match winning 3-1. Antony Mieno was instrumental in the goals providing assists for goalscorers Felix Okinyi and Dennis Njoroge while Hawi Omondi scored the third late into the match.

In the other quarterfinal matches, Kasarani knocked out Jamhuri 5-4 on penalties after the match had ended in a stalemate. Langa’ta Boys also won 4-3 against Ofafa Jericho in post match penalties after the two teams could only manage a 0-0 draw in normal time while Annointed beat Asec Academy 2-1.

In the semifinals, James Oyayo and Michael Maina were both on target as Langa’ta Boys edged out Kasarani 2-1. In the second semifinal, Anointed defeated JMJ Academy 5-4 in post-match penalties but they were controversially disqualified after allegedly fielding ineligible players.

Kasarani Boys were hence given a walkover in the third place playoff as JMJ Academy and Lang’ata Boys contested the final. The two teams entertained the fans with some sharp passing but their cagey approach to the game meant no one managed to infringe their opponent’s goal as it ended 0-0 in normal time.

JMJ keeper Felix Okinyi emerged the hero as he saved Hillay Shako’s penalty to give JMJ Academy a 5-4 win over Lang’ata and a ticket to the Kisumu finals slated for mid-August.

Meanwhile a team comprising of Nairobi-based journalists gave a good account of their potential in spite of going down 4-0 to a well drilled Thika Veterans. Joe Muracia, Victor Mburu, Patchers Okwaro and Bramwel Wambua were all on target for the Veterans who had to pull every trick out of the football manual to beat the Media11.

The media team was represented by among others, goalkeeper Robin Toskin, Fred Arocho, David Nyadera, Robo, Diblo Kaberia, Erick Ochieng’, Ken Nato, Staford Ondego, Stephen Mukangai, Muigai Kigure, Nelson Mzee and Josphat Kebut.

The COPA Coca-Cola provincial finals will enter its penultimate stage this weekend.

Other Results

Western Province

Boys - Quartefinals

Eshikamale 2 0 Mbale

Chavakali 4 2 Mukumu

Mundika 2 0 Bukembe

Lumakanda 2 0 St Mathias

Semifinals

Eshikamale 0 1 Mundika

Chavakali 2 0 Lumakanda

Final

Chavakali 2 0 Mundika

Girls

Semifinals

Butere 2 0 Mudavadi

Bishop Njenga 0 2 Busaida (walkover)

Butula 2 0 Ibinzo (walkover)

Final

Butula 6 0 Busaida

Central Province

Boys Final

Lasalle Youth 1 0 Sagana Youth

Girls Final

Gataragwa 1 0 Reality Stars

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

Yossi Benayoun Scores a Stunner

Former Liverpool player Yossi Benayoun scored a delightful goal for Chelsea as the last season’s runners up began their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers. The Israeli who was injured for most part of last season collected a pass from Gael Kakuta, flicked the ball once, twice with the third one going over the Wycombe keeper to put Villas Boas’ men on course for the win in his first game since taking over from Carlo Ancelotti.

Serbian Slobodan Rajkovic scored the second with another former Liverpool player Fernando Torres scoring the third for his only second goal for the Blue men since his big money move from Anfield. However, it was Benayoun’s goal that was the highlight of the match which was played behind-closed-doors. Villas Boas fielded a total of 23 players over two halves for the friendly played at Cobham.

Chelsea 1st Half: Henrique Hilario, Jose Bosingwa, Kalas, John Terry (Captain), Patrick van Aanholt, Florent Malouda, Kaby, Obi Mikel, Gael Kakuta, Yossi Benayoun, Didier Drogba.

Chelsea 2nd Half: Ross Turnbull, Paulo Ferreira (Captain), Branislav Ivanovic, Rajkovic, Ashley Cole, B. Clifford (Mellis 65), McEachran, Yuri Zhirkov, Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres. 

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

From a KOP to a KOP

This is an interesting conversation I had with a Liverpool supporter in an online conversation that stretched for hours. We discussed about Brazilian sensation Neymar, new signings at Anfield like Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, imminent ones like Stewart Downing and 16-year-old M'Baye Niang as well as the possible line up at Anfield next season especially in the midfield. We even talked about the club's Asia tour, not to mention the  deadwood who need to be shipped out ASAP. Poulsen was an interesting topic.

They don't say You Will Never Walk Alone for nothing. Enjoy

GREGALUTION:  
by the way am watching neymar's goals fantastic skills he's got talent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avyNYZxhZNE&feature=player_detailpage

STEIFMASTER: 
Neymaar is a dream signing.. and so is this guy... dont know why there isn’t much of a bidding war for this player - http://thesteifmastertake.blogspot.com/2011/05/someone-should-buy-this-player.html

GREGALUTION: 
the QPR guy? I read the story a couple of weeks ago where is he

STEIFMASTER: 
still at QPR men... we shd buy him as a backup striker now dat we lost on Wickham

GREGALUTION: 
Too many buyings will render pacheco and company useless...just as somebody was suggesting we sell agger is that a serious kop?

STEIFMASTER: 
Am a big fan of the Argh... but he needs to stay fit.. if he does and we get a good leftback (read today ati we are looking at Marcelo now that Contreao has gone to madrid).. I think we will be formidable.. imagine marcelo on the left, glen on the right.. argh and carra on the center... adam, gerro, kuyt/downing, lucas mid and suarez carol upfront... and someone says we can’t win the league.. men dat squad... dont know who to put on the bench bana

GREGALUTION: Sure we will not CAN...but right now Agger is fit i think he is in Guangzou

STEIFMASTER: 
Yep he travelled.. Greg seriously...who wd drop to the bench...gerroo... no qsn.. but Adam, Kuyt, Lucas, Meireles, Downing if he signs... eih yawa!!!! and now ati M'Baye Niang shd sign for us this week... he's 16… u goin go go go offline

GREGALUTION: 
Not really may be my account was idle....i would drop kuyt just to add speed you know he is aging… what of you by the way even gerro is aging

STEIFMASTER:
Aah,,,, Gerro... never ever men... I love dat guy (am not gay lol)... cant drop him.. will have him start all matches if he can but then drop him if we have the win secured... how about i drop Lucas (this breaks my heart)... have adam and gerro mid... downing (or Andy johnson) left wing and kuyt right wing - kuyt adds more spark in attack... gerro and adam wil have to work extra hard though to cover defence if we drop lucas

GREGALUTION:
Lucas NO he is the duracell for adams..he might as well be linked to the left flank then we drop kuyt he should start being used as an impact player

STEIFMASTER:
 dat hurts but if you say so... Lucas Adam center... downing left... err..gerro right? suarez and caroll strike ... ama lucas, gerro, adam mid.... suarez right downing left caroll lonely upfront.. think this is better... kuyt comes in for caroll... formation shifts to 4-4-2 with geroo right and kuyt and suarez upfront...

GREGALUTION:
 surely it hurts but i think Dalglish is such a canny guy..you know this guys...suarez and lucas will have a burn out after the COPA america 2011 so gerroo kuyt,carrol and adms/henderson"never fancied him" will make a start attack

STEIFMASTER:
Damn!!! even forgot about Hendo... Seriously, I think this is a crisis... wat of after the rest... and am a big fan of Aqua.. and we haven’t even talked about Meireles... dats a headache bana... let canny Kenny decide…. LFC fans are very "interesting"… told you of the M'Baye Niang guy... guys have even updated his wikipedia profile and stated current club as LFC with jersey no 9 lol

GREGALUTION:
Aqua...ha! meireles...lets face the fact here...kuyt is dropping down the pecking order bana..i think he gonna do what he did to Chelsea..who expected that squad ....with johnson and agger in midfield,carra,skrtel,kelly and who was that...cant remember in defence

STEIFMASTER:
I think guys like kuyt for his workrate... i rate him more than merieles and so do the King... Meireles will be sold ... un4tunately... aqua aqua aquaaaa

GREGALUTION:
Aqua can always create impacts in games involving weak sides like arsenal...meireles is just in a class of his own but he gets worn out quickly i think he can also create a good impact player....only rotation will do...joe cole is being sold...poulsen,jovanovic....hey is this a new mancity?

STEIFMASTER:
I don't know men... haki sijui... Cole... am tired of this...... check them out here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s8LPRNRxm0Q u've liked Charlie Adam's facebook page... i see... dats a KOP

GREGALUTION:
yah lemmi hope that he does what aurellio does best with the left foot

STEIFMASTER:
U've seen the video... ave been inside dat ting... mine was jetlink tho...haha

GREGALUTION:
Yah...soto is still alive bro av seen in at the background on charlie adam's wall pics

STEIFMASTER:
Not worried about him... and wats Poulsen doing there... he shd hav been put on a bike... if he reaches hong kong in time...... a lifetime contract with lfc would have been awesome

GREGALUTION:
lol such a tweet.....poulsen is the mzee (old man) of the team like Musa Otieno with harambee stars

STEIFMASTER: 
yeah.. dont know where dat tweet came from... even commented on the video with my youtube channel lol... but at least Musa can pass a ball to save his life

GREGALUTION:
Yawa dont be so hard on the man who covered the longest distance at the 201 FIFA world cup in the savanna....by the way this is a comment frim meireles page....In a quick conversation, Raul admitted desire to remain at Liverpool.

STEIFMASTER:
longest distance chasing after male players not the ball... get your facts right lol.. he looks like a model with his blonde hair...Raul wants to stay but am prepared to lose him

GREGALUTION:
Surely...for a british player?consistency bana check out your choices and considerclass is permanent but form is temporary

STEIFMASTER:
Poulsen lacks both

GREGALUTION:
But meireles does..

STEIFMASTER:

but we can sacrifice him...he's 28... hendo is 20? he'll come good under the tutelage of Stevie (who is british)...we can offload him know coz we have many options... in January... i couldn’t have thot the same..bt am a fan of the guy... but u see they can't sell hendo for meireles

GREGALUTION:
But they can sell jovanovic,poulsen,cole,ngog,spearing,damien plessis,nabil elzhar...call them we need a big squad you know for us to get to europe..

STEIFMASTER:
Spearo? no... dats the next Mascherano bana... look at day guys face... he looks battered and ready to revenge with some crunching tackles dat win the ball... Ngog can Ngo shingo upande.. na hao wengine..dnt know much about Plessis... and Degen is also on the ranks

GREGALUTION:
Degen was sold to i think hamburg maze spearing will just have to be sacrificed you dont know much about plessis...there is insua and konchesky...

STEIFMASTER:
not sold.. he was on loan with Stuttgart...the face-rubbing manager Woy Hodgson however told him he was free to look for another club... he's done nothing to say about him...age also doesnt fit with new FSG policy

GREGALUTION:
oh...Stuttgart.. speedy player he was...but could not settle due to injury....

STEIFMASTER:

whateva happens, Anfield would be awesome next season before we move from all dat history to a new stadium...sadly

GREGALUTION:
Stanely Park...but if we want to compete financially yeah.. we can make anfield our museum

STEIFMASTER:
I hope pray and wish that one day I'll attend an LFC match... cd have been better at Anfield but just being inside Liverpool.. the capital of the world's best football team irrespective of what others think would be a lifetime achievement... Walk on with hope in your heart and YWNWA

GREGALUTION:
I understand that Hagar the horrible has a chain of restaurants in the city...would love to eat in one of them...but in three seasons' time i have to attend to one of the matches...

STEIFMASTER:

Hagar?

GREGALUTION:
AGGER

don't you remember the danish great English conquerer Hggar The Horrible?

STEIFMASTER:

nope... history huh... and this Sconefield got a surpriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiseeee for you... still working on it but have a look lol - http://bit.ly/ohvyGi

GREGALUTION:
that was a suprise...am flattered bro 2days to my birthday andit is just ...

STEIFMASTER:

ooh... wow... didnt know dat... from a KOP to a KOP... dats my bday present for you lol

GREGALUTION:
thats more than a birthday man

STEIFMASTER:

wat? u making me get emotional bana... share it on your fbook or sth

GREGALUTION:
yah..dont because am the captain here i wanna share it now...

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

K’Ogalo Fans Cry Foul

The new Gor Mahia 2011/12 kit which was launched on Thursday July 7 has received nothing but a plethora of negative criticisms and angry bombardment from the club’s fervent supporters.

Overpriced, ugly, unstylish, third class, a rip-off, a big insult to the Gor Mahia fraternity; these are just some of the words that have been used by Gor Mahia fans to describe the club’s new range of kits.

The bashing has been directed at the new jersey (especially the alternative blue one) with fans almost unanimous that it is of low quality, high cost and a disheartening shift from the traditional white and green colours that define the club and distinguishes it from archrivals like AFC Leopards and Sofapaka who also don blue.  

Even the arrangements on how the club will benefit from the sale of the jersey has not gone down well with the fanatics who claim they were not consulted. The new jersey will retail at a cost of Shs2800 shillings or Sh3300 plus printing with the club getting only 10% of those proceeds. This arrangement has made some fans ask who is actually sponsoring who while the peeling off of the front label has had many asking whether it was manufactured along River Road (a dingy street known for counterfeit products)

The club’s sponsors, Tuzo, unveiled the Legea manufactured set of new kits which will come in the traditional white and green colours with the navy blue one reserved for official functions. Under the 38 million shillings sponsorship deal signed on April 13 2011, Tuzo will also provide the players with boots and shin guards as well as track suits for the club’s technical bench.

Meanwhile a Moses Odhiambo freekick with barely ten minutes remaining on the clock gave K’Ogalo a 1-0 win over Thika United in the Milk Derby. The win took club to fifth position in the KPL standings, six points behind leaders Rangers but Gor have two games in hand.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

Media Game to Light up Copa Provincials

The COPA Coca-Cola provincials enters its second leg on Sunday with teams from Nairobi, Western and Central B provinces set to fight for slots in the national finals.

In Nairobi, JMJ Academy (who qualified for the provincial finals after thrashing Starehe Boys 4-0 and not vice versa as earlier reported) will face Makadara Academy in the first quarter-final match at Starehe Boys Centre.

The winner will face either Anointed or ASEC ACD who lock horns in corresponding fixture. The other two quarter-finals will be between Lang’ata Boys and Ofafa Jericho while Jamuhuri Boys will square it off with Kasarani Academy.

The overall winner will earn the right to represent the province in next month’s national finals in Kisumu. The two losing semi-finalists will compete in the third-place playoff.

The girls’ game will pick from the semifinals stage where St. Teresa will battle with Jogoo Road as Kasarani Academy face St. Martins.

Fans will be treated to an elite and thrilling match pitting Nairobi’s best sports journalists who will sweat it out with invitational side Wazee FC.

In Western Province, the quarterfinals will be between Eshikamale and Kegoye with the winner facing either Mundika Secondary or Bukembe who clash in the other quarter-final. The other quarterfinal matches will be between Lumakanda Boys and St. Mathias while Chavakali will clash with Mukumu Boys.

In the girls’ matches, Mudavadi Girls will square it out with Butere Girls with the winner of this quarterfinal encounter facing either Kaimosi or Lugulu Girls. Bishop Njenga versus Busaida Girls and Butula Girls versus Ibinzo Girls will be the other quarterfinal matches.

The Central (B) Province quarterfinal games will see Dedan Kimathi lock horns with Sagana Youth, Nanyuki High with Lasalle Youth and Gift of Nature against Ngenia Boys.

The girls’ quarterfinal games will see Gataragwa Secondary face Reality Stars, Bingwa against Young Vision and Karoti versus Ngenia Girls.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!